The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was formed in 1908 and the Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913. The purpose of the Code was to establish a professional standard of conduct for real estate practitioners.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics is based on the concepts of "service to the public," and a "commitment to professionalism." These central concepts of public protection are the foundations upon which the Articles of the Code stand.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® was one of the first business groups to adopt a code of ethics. The first Code included "duties to clients" and "duties to other brokers." Later, when real estate license laws were established, many of these laws were based on the standards set in the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

To this day, many judicial decisions cite the REALTOR® Code of Ethics as the recognized standard of conduct in the real estate industry. Courts have applied the standards of conduct embodied in the Code of Ethics even to real estate licensees who are not REALTORS®.

Each REALTOR® is required to complete training biannually to review the Code. It ensures fellow practitioners and the public of a commitment to business integrity and high standard of business conduct. By becoming a member of the REALTORS® of South Central Kansas, a real estate agent has made the decision to take an extra professional step.

Pathways to Professionalism

While the Code of Ethics establishes objective, enforceable ethical standards governing the professional conduct of REALTORS®, it does not address issues of courtesy or etiquette. Based on input from many sources, a list of professional courtesies for use by REALTORS® on a voluntary basis. This list is not all-inclusive, and may be supplemented by local custom and practice.